First unit of Belarusian nuclear power plant completes hermetic enclosure tests

MINSK, 5 November (BelTA) – The first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has successfully finished testing the density and durability of the hermetic enclosure of the reactor building, BelTA learned from ASE Company. The company is the general designer and general contractor in the project for building the Belarusian nuclear power plant. It also represents the engineering division of the Russian state nuclear industry corporation Rosatom.

The ability of the hermetic enclosure to handle excessive pressure was tested as part of the large-scale startup and commissioning work. Over the course of eight days the hermetic seal was tested against reduced air pressure created using an exhaust ventilation system. Then an extremely powerful compressor was engaged to create excessive pressure (4.6kgf/cm2). The stress-strain behavior of the enclosure was monitored all the time.

The hermetic enclosure system is a localizing safety system made up of an external protective shell and an internal one. It is designed to prevent radiation from leaking into the environment while protecting the reactor room from external impacts. The tests demonstrated that the hermetic enclosure of the first reactor is ready for operation.

According to ASE Company Vice President and supervisor of the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction project Vitaly Polyanin, the construction of the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant is about to enter the final stage. Hot trials will begin within days. Once the trials are over, the main equipment and auxiliary equipment of the primary and secondary circuits will be checked as part of preparations for the nuclear reactor startup.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built near Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast using a Russian design featuring two VVER-1200 reactors with the total output capacity of 2,400MW. ASE Company is the general designer and general contractor in the project to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant. It also represents Rosatom's engineering division.